Face. Altai 1993

Volodymyr Loboda painted this ‘Face. Altai’ on canvas, and it’s all about colour and shape, right? The way the reds, greens, and yellows push against each other, and how that central, slightly smudged face emerges from the blocky background, that's all part of the plan. Looking closely, you see the paint isn't trying to hide anything. It's a bit rough, not super blended, you can see the brushstrokes, especially in that green patch behind the head. It feels immediate, like Loboda was just going for it, laying down these simple, strong colors to capture something essential. The mouth, that little pink crescent, is my favorite bit. It's so minimal, yet it gives the whole face a sense of quiet contentment. Loboda’s work reminds me of the early Fauves like Derain, using color in a similar way to create mood. What do you think? Whatever it is, this little painting holds onto its secrets and makes you want to keep looking, thinking, and feeling.